Workmen's advocate. (New Haven, Conn.) 1883-1891, 1887-08-27
THE SOCIALIST PLATFORM.
What the Radical Wing of the Labor
Party Agitate For.


all wealth and civilization, it is but
equitable that those who perform all
labor and thus create all wealth should
ENJOY the product Of their toll.
But this is rendered impossible by the
modern system of production, which,
since the discovery of steam power and
since the general introduction of ma
chimes, is in all branches of industry
carried with such gigantic means and
appliances rs but a few are able to
possess.
The present industrial system is CO
operative in one respect only, which is;
lhat not, as in former times, the lndi-
vidnal works alone for his own account,
out dozens, hundreds and thousands of
men work together in shops, in mines, on
hdge farms and lands, cooperating ac.
cording to the most efficient division Of
labor, while the fruits of this co-opera-
tive labor are not reaped by the workers
themselves, but are in n great measure
appropriated by the owners of the means
OF production
This system, by gradually extinguish-
ing the middle class of people, necessari-
ly separates society into two classes: The
class of the wage workers, and that of
the great bosses
1t brings forth as its natural out
growths:
The planlessness and reckless rate Of
prod lcton.
The waste of human and natural
forces.
The commercial and industrial crises
The constant uncertainty of the ma
teral existence Of the wage workers.
The misery of the laboring masses.
The accumulation of wealth in the
hands of few.
These conditions, which under the
present industrial system cannot but be-
come more and more aggravated is in
consistent with the interests of mankind
with the principles of justice and true
democracy, as they DESTROY those rights
which the Declaration of Independence
Of the United States holds to be inaien-
able in all men: The right to life, liberty
ard the pursuit Of happiness.
These conditions shorten and imperl
life by want and misery. They destroy
liberty because the economical subjec-
ton of the wage-workers to the owners
Of the means of production Immediately
leads to their political dependence upon
the same sources, and finally Illustrate
the pursuit of happiness, which is never
possible when life and personal liberty
are constantly endangered.
In order, therefore, to abolish these
humiliating conditions, we strive to
introduce the perfect system of cooper
ative producton--that is, we demand
that the workers obtain the undivided
product of their toll.
This being only feasible by securing to
the workers the control of the means of
production,
We demand:
That the land the instruments of pro-
products of labor, become the common
property of the whole people; and,
That all production be organized CO.
operatively, and be carried on under the
direction of the commonwealth; and also
the cooperative distribution of the pro-
duets in accordance with the service rem
dered, and with the just needs of the in
dividuals.
And to realize our demands, we strive
by all proper means to gain control Of
the political power.
The Socialstic Labor Party claims the
title, Labor Party" because it recog-
nizes the existence of an oppressed class
of wage-workers as its fundamental
truth, and the emancipation of this OPP
pressed laboring class rs its foremost
object.
POLITICAL DEMANDS
/. Abolition of the Presidency. Vice
States. An Executive Board to be estab-
lished, whose members are to be elected,
and may at any time be recalled, by the
House Of Representatives as the only
Legislative body. The States and Municis
palities to adopt corresponding amend
ments of their constitutions and statutes.
2. Municipal self-government.
3. Direct vote and secret ballots in all
elections. Universal and equal right of
suffrage without regard to color, creed,
or sex. Election days to he legal holidays.
The principle of minority representation
to be introduced.
A. The people to have the right to pro-
pose laws Gnitiative) and to vote upon
all laws of importance (referendum).
5. The members of all legislative
bodies to be responsible to and subject to
recall by the constituency.
6. Uniform law throughout the United
States Administration of justice to be
free of charge. Abolition of capital
punishment.
I. Separation of all public affairs from
religion church property to be subject